The good news is that my laptop is back. Thank you so much to everyone who helped me through the technocrisis!
The bad news is that for some reason my phone died. It turned black and won’t turn on. I charged it this morning, so it can’t be out of juice. I need to do password recovery and they all want to do two-step verifications by sending a code to my phone. So in some cases even when I know the password I still can’t get into a lot of things, which is going to slow me down a lot. But at least I was able to get into The Mahablog.
And right now I’m kind of exhausted, but I may post something later.
You might need a technician to come over and do an incantation over all your computer equipment – even the surge protector. Yikes!
I hope you get rest and recover.
And I wish the same for your phone
I mostly just lurk here but I miss your posts and the responses / comments
A Michigan Congresswoman, Shri Thanedar, introduced articles of impeachment against F47 (sorry no linkee). It's worth looking up to see her succinct and powerful list of 7 charges. She represents districts around and including Detroit.
Things are turning south for F47. However, Timothy Snyder expects a terrorist attack, which is totally logical given the incompetents in charge, and the various defenses that have been shut down. I'd expect an attack next year, when 1) F47 will be most desperate, 2) the attack will have the most effect on USAans about to vote. If we can't get rid of him first.
Sorry to hear about your phone, on the heels of the busted laptop. I hope you can get through this easily!
Welcome back. Hopefully, the phone issue will be minor. If what I'm reading is accurate, we will start to see the effects of the tariffs on China next month. Trade with China is virtually shut down, except for the tech sector. China is not applying tariffs to chips the US is shipping and the US is not applying tariffs to computers and phones. Otherwise, the last ship has unloaded on West coast docks. Truckers are shopping elsewhere for work. China denies there are ANY ongoing talks. Trump promised last week a reduction in tariffs with China but it's looking like a ruse.
Trump is making noises about suspending taxes to offset the price increases of tariffs. (I suspect also a ruse.) But the question is not if inflation will kick in, but how soon, how much, and on what products. The momentum for Trump in the polls is all DOWN. A kick-ass month of May could put Trump in serious jeopardy because Trump needs the perception of being invincible. China could force Trump to capitulate on trade if Trump's popularity tanks in the face of inflation and a falling Dow (which is speculation, I admit.)
I'm watching for IRS numbers – some forecast that with the mass layoffs and departures at IRS, taxpayers will take advantage of the likely absence of oversight and tax revenues will fall. Trump is touting the 15 billion windfall from tariffs last month but will April tax revenues collapse, relative to last year?
Republicans are trying to get a budget passed before they have to raise the debt ceiling. We should get a better idea of the time frame this week but it does not look like they will pass anything in time if at all. Johnson will have to face members when there is a specific bill and different groups feel that Johnson lied to them about what would be in the bill. So far, the GOP in Congress has caved to pressure from Trump but will Trump be suffering so badly in the polls that some Republicans find a spine?
Bullshit Barbie said today that DOJ will arrest anyone, including judges, including members of the USSC if they are "obstructing" in the view of DOJ. Was she going rogue or was the Q and A a plant? (Fox was the source of the question.) How will the USSC react to the implicit threat of criminal prosecution if a decision is seen by the WH as "obstruction?" This is huge because a recent poll found 88% believe the administration HAS to follow the ruling of the USSC. Less than 10% said Trump can defy/ignore the judiciary.
So what I'm watching is the trend of Trump's approval in polls. I'm watching the decisions of the USSC on Trump actions. I'm watching Wall Street and T-bills to gauge the trend of the economy. And I'm watching the rise of the opposition, and the response (potential military response) to mass demonstrations that Democratic voters seem to be eager for. (Dammit, if Trump does a military parade in DC for his birthday, that's the ideal opportunity for a mass demonstration AGAINST!) A whole lot of this is weeks, not months, out. In the end, Trump has to have the support of the US military for a coup against the judiciary and the US Constitution if/when Trump suspends elections. Right now the Pentagon may be the most dysfunctional building in DC and the lynchpin of Trump's last stand.
I think what a lot of Americans miss is that the only "winning" will be the inevitable chaos that will lower the US. Putin knows that under his oligarch system, he cannot raise Russia. To make room for him to re-establish the USSR, he will need to bring down the US.
I really think that this is what is intended to happen. donnie is just a tool.
I agree.
Me too.
I agree as well.